필리핀어학연수 유학기업 필자닷컴

English idioms relating to "TIME"

이름 : jilo
작성일 : 2011-09-02
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English idioms relating to TIME
After the fact	If something is done after the fact, it is too late, after something has actually happened, particularly a crime or an accident. "He said he realized he had put people in danger, but that was of no help after the fact."
Against the clock	If you do something against the clock, you are rushed and have very little time to do it. "They are working against the clock to have the presentation ready for Monday."
At this stage of the game	This expression refers to the current point reached in a process, activity or developing situation. "At this stage of the game I think any further intervention would be unwise. Let's wait and see how things develop."
Better late than never	When someone does something late, this remark means that it's better to do it late than not do it at all. "Do you know what time it is? You promised you'd come early to help me - but better late than never I suppose!"
In the blink of an eye	If something happens in the blink of an eye, it happens nearly instantaneously, with hardly enough time to notice it. "The pickpocket disappeared in the blink of an eye."
In broad daylight	If something happens in broad daylight, it takes place in the clear light of day when everyone can see what's going on. "His car was stolen in front of the bank in broad daylight and apparently there was not one witness!"
Cut it/things fine	If you cut it/things fine, you leave barely enough time to do something. "You're counting just an hour between the airport and the train station - that's cutting things a bit fine isn't it?"
Day late and a dollar short	If something is a day late and a dollar short, it comes too late and is not good enough. "They offered me an internship when I'd already found a job - a day late and a dollar short!"
Down to the wire	If something such as a project or a match goes down to the wire, the situation can change up until the last possible moment. "There's nothing as exciting as watching a game that goes down to the wire."
At the drop of a hat	If you do something at the drop of a hat, you do it immediately and without hesitation "I've got great friends. They're ready to help out at the drop of a hat."
At the eleventh hour	If something happens at the eleventh hour, it happens when it is almost too late, or at the last possible moment. "Our team won after they scored a goal at the eleventh hour."
Five o'clock shadow	This expression refers to a patch of stubble on the face of a man who hasn't shaved for at least a day. "He looked tired and had a five o'clock shadow."
From the word go	The expression 'from the word go' means from the very beginning of an activity. "Right from the word go he was rejected by the rest of the group."
In the interim	Something that happens in the interim takes place during a period of time between two events. "I won't have the apartment until next month. In the interim I'm staying at a local hotel."
In the long run	This term refers to something that will have effect over or after a long period of time. "I've decided to study Chinese, which is going to be difficult, but it'll be worth it in the long run because it'll help me get a better job."
Just around the corner	If something is just around the corner, it will happen very soon. "With spring just around the corner, the new collection should begin to sell."
Never in a million years	This expression means "absolutely never" "I will never in a million years understand why Anne married Bob."
Living on borrowed time	This expression refers to a period of time after an illness or accident which could have caused death. " After heart surgery, some patients say they're living on borrowed time."
Lose track of time	When you give all your attention to something, and become so engrossed in it that you don't realize what time it is, you lose track of time. "When I start surfing on the web, I lose all track of time."
Make up for lost time	If you make up for lost time, you increase your efforts or work harder to complete something or meet a deadline. "Progress has stopped because of bad weather, but we are determined to make up for lost time."
Moment of truth	A critical or decisive time when you face the reality of a situation, and find out if your efforts have succeeded, is called the moment of truth. "The moment of truth has arrived - I'm going to serve my first soufflé!"
Month of Sundays	This expression is an amusing way of referring to a very long period of time. "I haven't been to the theatre in a month of Sundays."
Nick of time	If something happens in the nick of time, it happens at the last minute, when it is nearly too late. "The child was standing in front of the open window. His mother arrived in the nick of time."
Once in a blue moon	Something that happens once in a blue moon is something that happens rarely or hardly ever.
Play for time	If you play for time, you try to delay or prevent something from happening in order to gain an advantage. "He decided to play for time in the hope that the price would decrease."
Pressed for time	If you're pressed for time, you have hardly enough time to do something, so you must hurry. "Sorry. I can't talk to you now - I'm a bit pressed for time."
Put on ice	To say that a plan or project is put on ice means that all further action has been postponed for an indefinite period of time. "Plans for a nuclear power station have been put on ice."
A race against time	If someone is in a race against time, they have to work very quickly in order to do or finish something before a certain time.
Shelf life	If something, such as food, drink or medicine, has a particular shelf life, it must be used or sold before the end of that period of time. "Dairy products have quite a short shelf life."
That ship has sailed	The expression 'that ship has sailed' means that a particular opportunity has passed by and it's now too late. "Is the offer this open?" "Sorry, that ship has sailed - you missed your chance!"
Sign of the times	This expression refers to something that shows the nature of today's society. "The rising level of violence is a sign of the times."
Small hours	If you refer to the small hours, you mean after midnight, or the very early hours of the day. "Sarah worked until the small hours on her speech for the ceremony."
On the spur of the moment	If you do something on the spur of the moment, you do it as soon as you think of it, spontaneously, without any planning. "He decided on the spur of the moment to buy flowers for his wife."
Stand the test of time	If something stands the test of time, people continue to find it valuable or useful after many years. "The teaching method has stood the test of time. It is still used in schools today."
Time after time	If you do something time after time, you do it repeatedly or on many occasions. "The boy was surprised when the teacher punished him although he had been warned time after time."
Time flies	This expression is used to express surprise at how quickly time passes (usually in a very active or happy situation). "It's hard to believe we've been living here two years already. Time files, doesn't it?"
Time on your hands.	If you have time on your hands, you have a lot of free time, usually more than you need or want. "Since he retired, Bill has too much time on his hands. He should take up a hobby!"
Time of your life	If you have the time of your life, you enjoy yourself very much. "The kids had the time of their lives at Disneyland."
Time is ripe	If the time is ripe for something, it is the right moment to do it. "He sold his business when the time was ripe."
Time on your side	If you have time on your side, you can afford to wait before doing or achieving something. "He didn't succeed this time, but he's young enough to try again. He's got time on his side. "
In one's own sweet time	If you do something in your own sweet time, you take as long as you please to do it, in spite of the orders or wishes of others. "OK, I'll do it - but in my own sweet time!"
Since time immemorial	If something has existed since time immemorial, it has been there for such a long time that nobody can recall a time without it. "I don't know when that bridge was built. It's been there since time immemorial."
Time-honoured practice	A custom that is universally respected, or a traditional way of doing something, is called a time-honoured practice.
Until hell freezes over	If you tell someone they can do something until hell freezes over, you mean that they can do it forever but they won't obtain the result they want. "You can ask until hell freezes over; I will not allow you to go bungee-jumping."